Umbrella having uneven cover or canopy

ABSTRACT

An umbrella includes a central stick, a crown disposed on top of the stick, a slider slidably attached onto the central stick, an uneven canopy having a front portion shorter than two side portions of the canopy, and a rear portion longer than the side portions of the canopy, and a whale bone device for coupling the canopy to the central stick and for supporting the canopy on the central stick. The whale bone device includes one or more front strut assemblies for supporting the shorter front portion of the canopy, one or more side strut assemblies for supporting the side portions of the canopy, and one or more rear strut assemblies for supporting the longer rear portion of the canopy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more particularly to an umbrella having an uneven canopy or cover or umbrella cloth supported by an uneven wheel bone means or device for suitably and effectively operating to shield the user in the rain and for preventing the user from wetting.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical umbrella devices comprise a runner slidably attached onto a central telescoping post, and a number of whale bones or strut assemblies attached or coupled to the central telescoping post and the runner for stretching or supporting the canopy or cover or umbrella cloth.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,031 to Weber, U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,385 to Pennella, U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,969 to Chou et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,798 to Yang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,132 to Lin et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,169 to Lin et al. disclose six of the typical umbrella devices each comprising a number of whale bones or strut assemblies attached or coupled to the central telescoping post and the runner for stretching or supporting the canopy, and the strut assemblies each include a number of struts pivotally coupled together and the struts are normally made of metal materials.

However, normally, the whale bones or strut assemblies include the same length, and the canopy or cover or umbrella cloth includes an even or uniform structure such that the front portion of the user will be shielded or obstructed by the canopy or cover or umbrella cloth, and the rear portion of the user will be easily wetted by the rain.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional strut assemblies for umbrellas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella including an uneven canopy or cover or umbrella cloth supported by an uneven wheel bone means or device for suitably and effectively operating to shield the user in the rain and for preventing the user from wetting.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella including a shortened front portion for preventing the front portion of the user from being shielded or obstructed by the canopy or cover or umbrella cloth.

The further objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella including a lengthened rear portion for suitably and effectively shielding the rear portion of the user in the rain and for preventing the rear portion of the user from wetting.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an umbrella comprising a central stick, a crown disposed on top of the stick, a slider slidably attached onto the central stick and movable up and down along the central stick, an uneven canopy including two side portions, a front portion shorter than the side portions of the canopy, and a rear portion longer than the side portions of the canopy, and a whale bone device for coupling the canopy to the central stick and for supporting the canopy on the central stick.

The whale bone device includes at least one front strut assembly for coupling and supporting the shorter front portion of the canopy, at least one side strut assembly for coupling and supporting the side portions of the canopy, and at least one rear strut assembly for coupling and supporting the longer rear portion of the canopy.

The front strut assembly and the side strut assembly each include an upper stave pivotally coupled to the crown, a lower stave pivotally attached or coupled to the slider and pivotally coupled to a middle portion of the upper stave, a main stave pivotally coupled to the upper stave, and an outer stave pivotally coupled to the main stave.

The main stave is pivotally coupled to the lower stave with a lever. The outer stave is pivotally coupled to the upper stave with a flexible member. The upper stave of the front strut assembly is preferably, but not necessarily shorter than the upper stave of the side strut assembly. The lower stave of the front strut assembly is preferably shorter than the lower stave of the side strut assembly. The main stave of the front strut assembly is preferably shorter than the main stave of the side strut assembly. The outer stave of the front strut assembly is preferably shorter than the outer stave of the side strut assembly.

The rear strut assembly also includes an upper stave pivotally coupled to the crown, a lower stave pivotally coupled to the slider and having a middle portion pivotally coupled to the upper stave, a main stave pivotally coupled to the lower stave, and an outer stave pivotally coupled to the main stave. The main stave may further be pivotally coupled to the upper stave with a lever. The outer stave may further be pivotally coupled to the lower stave with a flexible member.

The rear strut assembly includes an additional stave pivotally coupled to the outer stave for increasing the length of the rear strut assembly. The additional stave may further be pivotally coupled to the main stave with a flexible member. The rear strut assembly may further include a stretcher coupled between the main stave and the crown for coupling and supporting the canopy. The stretcher includes a knot engaged into a cavity of the crown. The stick may further include at least two telescoping stick sections retractably coupled together.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an umbrella in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan schematic view of the umbrella;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial plan schematic view illustrating the side rib of the umbrella;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial plan schematic view illustrating the rear rib of the umbrella; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating the crown portion of the strut assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, an umbrella in accordance with the present invention comprises a central telescoping post or stick 10 including one or more telescoping stick sections 11 stretchably and retractably coupled together, and including a handle (not shown) attached to the bottom portion of the stick 10 for being held or grasped by the users, and including a crown 12 attached or disposed on top of the stick 10, and including a slider 13 slidably provided and attached onto the central telescoping stick 10 and slidable or movable or adjustable up and down along the central telescoping stick 10, and an uneven whale bone means or device 3 attached or coupled to the stick 10 for openably supporting an uneven umbrella cloth or cover or canopy 80.

For example, as also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the canopy 80 includes a shorter or shortened front portion 81 for preventing the front portion of the user from being shielded or obstructed by the canopy 80, and includes an increased or longer or lengthened rear portion 82 for suitably and effectively shielding the rear portion of the user in the rain and for preventing the rear portion of the user from being wetted by the rain, and includes two side portions 83 having a width or dimension or length greater than the width or dimension or length of the front portion 81 of the canopy 80, but smaller or shorter than the width or dimension or length of the rear portion 82 of the canopy 80. It is to be noted that the shorter or shortened front portion 81 may decrease the area confronting the wind and may prevent the umbrella apparatuses from being easily folded or distorted by the wind.

The whale bone means or device 3 includes one or more (such as two) shorter or shortened front strut assemblies 30 for coupling and supporting the shorter or shortened front portion 81 of the canopy 80, one or more (such as two) side strut assemblies 40 for coupling and supporting the medium side portions 83 of the canopy 80, and one or more (such as two) increased or longer or lengthened rear strut assemblies 50 for coupling and supporting the increased or longer or lengthened rear portion 82 of the canopy 80 and for allowing the canopy 80 to be opened or stretched out to an open and working position (FIGS. 1, 2), and to be folded or retracted to a compact folding structure.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the strut assemblies 30, 40 each include an upper stave 31, 41 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the crown 12, a lower stave 32, 42 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the slider 13 and having an outer end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the middle portion 33, 43 of the upper stave 31, 41 respectively, a main stave 34, 44 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion 35, 45 of the upper stave 31, 41 and also pivotally attached or coupled to the lower stave 32, 42 with a lever 36, 46 respectively, and an outer stave 37, 47 pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion of the main stave 34, 44 and also pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion 35, 45 of the upper stave 31, 41 with a spring member or flexible member 48.

The strut assemblies 30, 40 include the same structure having the upper stave 31, 41, the lower stave 32, 42, the main stave 34, 44, the lever 36, 46, and the outer stave 37, 47, however, the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than or include a length greater than the front strut assemblies 30, for example, the upper staves 41 of the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the upper staves 31 of the front strut assemblies 30, and/or the lower staves 42 of the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the lower staves 32 of the front strut assemblies 30, and/or the main staves 44 of the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the main staves 34 of the front strut assemblies 30, and/or the outer staves 47 of the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the outer staves 37 of the front strut assemblies 30 respectively for allowing the side strut assemblies 40 to be longer than the front strut assemblies 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4, the rear strut assemblies 50 each also include an upper stave 51 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the crown 12, a lower stave 52 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the slider 13 and having a middle portion 53 pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion of the upper stave 51, a main stave 54 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion 55 of the lower stave 52 and also pivotally attached or coupled to the upper stave 51 with a lever 56 respectively, an outer stave 57 pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion of the main stave 54 and also pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion 55 of the lower stave 52 with a spring member or flexible member 58.

The rear strut assemblies 50 each further include an additional stave 59 pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion of the outer stave 57 and also pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion of the main stave 54 with a spring member or flexible member 60 for allowing the rear strut assemblies 50 to be longer than the side strut assemblies 40. It is preferable, but not necessarily that the upper staves 51 of the rear strut assemblies 50 are equals to the length of the lower staves 42 of the side strut assemblies 40 or have the same length as that of the lower staves 42 of the side strut assemblies 40, the lower staves 52 of the rear strut assemblies 50 have the same length as that of the upper staves 41 of the side strut assemblies 40, and the main staves 44, 54 and the outer staves 47, 57 have the length equals to each other. The rear strut assemblies 50 each include an additional stave 59, and the side strut assemblies 40 have no additional staves such that the rear strut assemblies 50 may be longer than the side strut assemblies 40.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, due to the coupling of the upper staves 51 to the middle portion 53 of the lower staves 52 of the rear strut assemblies 50, a recess or depression 62 (FIG. 4) will be formed between the upper stave 51 and the main stave 54 and/or the lever 56. One or more (such as two) stretchers 70 may thus be further provided and coupled between the main stave 54 and the crown 12 for supporting the canopy 80 and for preventing the canopy 80 from being recessed into the recess or depression 62 of the rear strut assemblies 50. For example, one end of the stretchers 70 may be twisted or secured together to form a knot 71 (FIG. 5) for engaging into a cavity 14 that is formed or provided in the crown 12.

Again, it is to be noted that the canopy 80 includes a shorter or shortened front portion 81 for preventing the front portion of the user from being shielded or obstructed by the canopy 80, and includes an increased or longer or lengthened rear portion 82 for suitably and effectively shielding the rear portion of the user in the rain and for preventing the rear portion of the user from being wetted by the rain, and the shorter or shortened front portion 81 may decrease the area confronting the wind and may prevent the umbrella apparatuses from being easily folded or distorted by the wind.

Accordingly, the umbrella in accordance with the present invention includes uneven cover or umbrella cloth supported by an uneven wheel bone means or device for suitably and effectively operating to shield the user in the rain and for preventing the user from wetting, and includes a shortened front portion for preventing the front portion of the user from being shielded or obstructed by the cover or umbrella cloth, and includes a lengthened rear portion for suitably and effectively shielding the rear portion of the user in the rain and for preventing the rear portion of the user from wetting.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. An umbrella comprising: a central stick, a crown disposed on top of said stick, a slider slidably attached onto said central stick and movable up and down along said central stick, an uneven canopy including two side portions, a front portion shorter than said side portions of said canopy, and a rear portion longer than said side portions of said canopy, and a whale bone means for coupling said canopy to said central stick and for supporting said canopy on said central stick.
 2. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said whale bone means includes at least one front strut assembly for coupling and supporting said shorter front portion of said canopy, at least one side strut assembly for coupling and supporting said side portions of said canopy, and at least one rear strut assembly for coupling and supporting said longer rear portion of said canopy.
 3. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one front strut assembly and said at least one side strut assembly each include an upper stave pivotally coupled to said crown, a lower stave pivotally coupled to said slider and pivotally coupled to a middle portion of said upper stave, a main stave pivotally coupled to said upper stave, and an outer stave pivotally coupled to said main stave.
 4. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said main stave is pivotally coupled to said lower stave with a lever.
 5. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said outer stave is pivotally coupled to said upper stave with a flexible member.
 6. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said upper stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than said upper stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
 7. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lower stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than said lower stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
 8. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said main stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than said main stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
 9. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said outer stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than said outer stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
 10. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one rear strut assembly includes an upper stave pivotally coupled to said crown, a lower stave pivotally coupled to said slider and having a middle portion pivotally coupled to said upper stave, a main stave pivotally coupled to said lower stave, and an outer stave pivotally coupled to said main stave.
 11. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said main stave is pivotally coupled to said upper stave with a lever.
 12. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer stave is pivotally coupled to said lower stave with a flexible member.
 13. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one rear strut assembly includes an additional stave pivotally coupled to said outer stave.
 14. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said additional stave is pivotally coupled to said main stave with a flexible member.
 15. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one rear strut assembly includes a stretcher coupled between said main stave and said crown for supporting said canopy.
 16. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said stretcher includes a knot engaged into a cavity of said crown.
 17. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stick includes at least two telescoping stick sections retractably coupled together. 